[Live MP3s] Swervedriver in Boston 2008
Posted on August 6, 2008 at 3:49 pm | No Comments
Even though I’m an unabashed fan of the shoegaze, I think I’m still allowed to believe that particular moniker for early-90s, mostly British, pedal-heavy, layered-guitar music is a bit silly. For me it’s merely a quick way to group together a ton of bands I loved and love; just some shorthand for us fans (or misguided detractors).
Of all the bands that get lumped into that press-created category, I’ve always thought that Swervedriver was the one that fit least comfortably — they’ve always struck me as more rock, less gentle, a little more alpha-male than their so-called downward-gazing peers. I mean, just listen to the progression-ending guitar hook in “Rave Down” and tell me that’s not heavy as hell. In a live setting, even more so.
So maybe it’s their more-muscular guitar lines that accounted for the huge backwards-ball-cap wearing contingent at the Boston stop of their reunion tour in June… I can’t explain it otherwise. I mean, you’re likely not gonna spot high-fiving and chest-bumping at a Ride reunion show (yes, I saw actual pectoral contact). You’ll probably hear their hyena howling in the recording below. Where were all those guys for the criminally under-attended Adam Franklin / Toshack Highway solo shows over the past decade or so? And will they show up for Magnetic Morning at Great Scott in October?
So, yeah, the Swervies reunited. And they toured. And it was great. Nearly as great (though not quite as ear-crushing) as the first go ’round, and much like those olden days, the Oxford quartet was all business: minimal audience acknowledgment, minimal smiling, maximum pedals. The only interaction I cared about was between Adam’s Jazzmaster, its whammy bar, and his wah pedal. Hopefully this recording captures a sliver of the sonic power on display.
Oh, and you’ll notice that the intro to “Never Lose That Feeling” fades in… leave it to my gear to freak out just as they launch into my favorite song of the set. But it recovered quickly. Whew.
Live at the Paradise
in Boston, MA
on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
01. Sci-Flyer
02. The Birds
03. Duel
04. Planes Over The Skyline
05. Wrong Treats
06. Sandblasted
07. Behind The Scenes Of The Sounds And The Times
08. Scrawl & Scream
09. These Times
10. The Other Jesus
11. Rave Down
12. Never Lose That Feeling
13. Son Of Mustang Ford
14. Last Train To Satansville
15. Duress
Some Swervedriver linkage…
Tuesday, Sept. 16th @ The Scala in London with Six By Seven and Exit Calm
Thursday, Sept. 18th @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow
After that, Magnetic Morning kicks off a 3-week U.S. tour in mid-October, and those dates can be found here. As I mentioned, one of those stops is Allston’s Great Scott on October 20th, where they’ll be playing with Springhouse (featuring The Big Takeover‘s Jack Rabid… I can’t wait to finally shake that man’s hand) and DC’s Julie Ocean (who include Velocity Girl‘s Jim Spellman). Now there’s a lineup for ya. I’ll be giving away tix to that one as it gets closer.
the fine print… If anyone has an issue with these Mp3s being made available, just let me know (my contact info in the ‘nac faq). Live sets recorded with a Sony ECM-719 mic and a Sony MZ-RH10 minidisc, converted to .wav and then edited to 192kbps Mp3s. Files are made available for a limited time, and are not reposted once removed.
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